Insights into the world of divorce and family law matters

August 01, 2008

Seven Myths of Divorce

Actually, the best designed study to date indicates that nearly 80% of men report that they have never cheated on their wives.

Myth 2:Most divorcing women are jilted by their husbands.

Many
studies have corroborated that the great majority of divorces (two
thirds to three quarters, depending on the study) are initiated by
women. This makes sense because numerous studies indicate that men are
generally happier being married than are women, they report less
marital frustration and dissatisfaction, and are less likely to
consider the option of divorce.

Myth 3:Women bitterly regret divorce.

Most
divorced women do not regret divorcing. Moreover, divorced women are
generally happier than divorced men. And one large study suggests that
many middle-aged women become happier after their divorce. These women
showed an increase in positive self-image and self-esteem and were
inspired by their divorce to gain more control of their lives. Many
enjoyed sex more after their divorce.

Myth 4:Women emerge from divorce more emotionally scarred and psychologically damaged than do men.

This
is generally not true. Not only are divorced women happier than
divorced men, but they are better off emotionally too. In study after
study they consistently outscore divorced men on psychological tests to
assess emotional health and well-being.

Myth 5:Ex-spouses are highly antagonistic toward one another, even to the point of acting unethically.

Divorced
couples, of course, vary widely in the civility of their interactions.
But about half of divorced men and women even describe their
relationship with their ex-spouse as friendly or cooperative.

Myth 6: Most divorced men can remarry while most divorced women cannot.

It
is true that divorced women are less likely than divorced men to want
to remarry (after all, they are happier than the men with being
divorced). But both groups do remarry at very high rates--and soon.
About 80% of divorced men and 75% of divorced women remarry whether or
not they have children, and most do so within three years.